Third-rail guard.



No. 797,394. PATENTED AUG. 15, 1905. M. ZUGIERMAYER, THIRD RAIL GUARD.

AJPPLIOATION FILED APEJQ, 1905.

PAIENTED AUG. 15, 1905.

M. ZUGERIVJIAYERQ THIRD HAIL GUARD.

APPLICATION FILED APILH, 1905.

2 SHEBT3SHIJET 2,

r n STAT PATENT OFFIUE.

rennet-nan. Canaan.

Itlo. 797,394;

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 15, 1905.

Application filed April 19, 1905. Serial No. 256,454.

To It who/art it nuty concern:

.Be it known that l M ELCHIOR Zuennnarnn, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at East Itutherford, in the county of Bergen and Stateof New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inThird-Rail Guards, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to electric railways, and more particularly torailways of this character whose ears draw their power from a third railor other conductor running parallel with the tracks.

My invention has especial reference to means for inclosing a third rail,but it might also be adapted and used with other forms of conductors.

Heretoiore the third rail has either been left entirely unprotected orhas been only partially protected by a hood covering the top or the topand one side of the rail. As the third rail is the conductor of acurrent of very high voltage, its unprotected state is a continualmenace to the lives of track-walkers, switehmen, and all employees whoare obliged to cross the tracks, and in case of accident,

as the overturning of the cars, to the passengers also. In addition tothis, where the third rail is unprotected or only partially protected itis liable in winter to become covered with snow or coated with a glazeof ice, which interferes with the proper running of trains and is verydiflicnlt to remove.

The object of my invention is to overcome these objections and toprovide a protector or guard for the third rail which shall entirelycover in and protect the same from the weather, thus keeping it in thebest condition for service, and which while opening to the passage oi acar-shoe at other times remains closed, so as to absolutely preclude thechance of any one accidentally coming in contact with it under anycircumstances.

To this end my invention consists, broadly, in providing an inclosurefor the rail which shall be capable of being automatically opened duringthe passage of a car or engine.

One form of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings,therein .liigure 1 is a front view of car on the usual track, the railsand the third-rail guard being shown in section. Fig. 2 is an enlargedsection of the third rail and its guard, the vertically-sliding plate ofthe guard being closed and in its normal position. Fig. 3 is a plan viewof the guard, the hood and sliding plate being broken away to show theform of oint between adjacent sliding plates and the loca tion of thesprings for holding said sliding plates in position. Fig. 4 is avertical section on line :0 :r, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a detail of the sideplatejoint.

In all the drawings, wherein like numerals designate like parts, 2indicates the third rail or other conductor, which is supported, asusual, upon the sleepers 3 of a track-bed.

4 designates a hood, preferably bolted or otherwise rigidly attached tothe track-bed or other support. This hood is placed on the outside ofthe third rail and projects upwardly and inwardly beyond the inside lineof the third rail, so that it covers the outside and tread of the rail,there being space enough between the third rail and the hood for theeasy passage of the ordinary shoe 10, as shown in Fig. 1. As will benoted, this hood is separated entirely from the third rail, so that itmay not become charged therefrom.

In order to close the opening of the hood, I make use of a side plate 5.This plate and the hood are relatively movable to or from each other, sothat they may be separated to allow the passage of the shoe 10 or closedautomatieally by a spring or weight after the shoe has passed.Preferably the plate 51s the verticallymovable member adapted to slideup and down and be supported in suitable guides and to be raised in theposition shown in Fig. 2 by springs 7. For depressing the plate it isprovided with a tread portion adapted to be acted upon by adepressorbar. In detail the construction whereby this is accomplished isas follows: The side plate 5 is supported on a longitudinal guide 6,bolted to the sleepers or other support, as is the hood 4;. This guideis formed with a base 6 and an upwardly-projecting flange 6, having avertical inside face and an inclined outer face. Projecting upward fromthe base inside oi. flange 6" are studs 6", between which and supportedon the base are the springs '7. As I have shown the construction thestuds 6 are located on the inside margin of the base 6 and projectupward to or nearly to the up per edge of flange 6", the side plate 5being slotted on its inside face, as at 5, to receive the said studs.These studs prevent the side plate from being displaced inward andcontacting with the third rail 2, as well as act as inside guides forthe side plate. These studs may be of any shape or number.

Between the studs 6 I locate the springs 7. These might be spiralsprings; but I believe bow-springs are preferable, the downwardbent endsof which rest upon the base 6, the elevated center bearing upwardagainst the under edge of the side plate 5, tending normally to hold theside plate closed against the under projecting face of hood 4. The endsof the springs 7 are slotted, as at 7, to provide for the extension ofthe springs as they are flattened by the depression of the plate 5.Headed bolts or screws 7 engage the slotted ends and hold the springs inplace.

In order to protect the joint between the flange 6 and the outer face ofplate 5, so that no water, snow,or dust shall accumulate therein andimpede the movement of the side plate, I provide the said plate with anoutwardly and downwardly projecting flange 5, extending some distanceover the inclined face of the flange 6. The crown of the hood 4: isrounded, as shown, so as to present inclined corners. 'lhedownwardincline of the flange 5" is so shaped as to practically continue thisincline. This is so that all water or snow may be deflected from. thecontacting portions of the hood and side plate.

8 designates a depressor bar projecting downwardly from the car 9 andprovided at its lower end with a wheel or roller 8 or a suitable shoe,if preferred. I have shown this depressor as being rigidly attached tothe car-platforzn; but it may be easily adapted to be raised out of theway, if desired, without departing from the spirit of my invention.

10 is the contact-shoe, carried by a projecting arm 10. This is of anyordinary construction, and as it forms no part of my invention I havenot shown it in detail. It is located behind the depressor 8. In Fig. 1I show the forward end of a car provided with a contact-shoe anddepressor; but it is to be understood that, if desired, the car may befitted with such shoes and depressors at both ends or either side, sothat the car may be run either end forward.

The side plates being made in lengths it is necessary that thedepression of the end of one length should depress the adjoining end ofthe next length. For that reason I provide the ends of adjacent sideplates on their upper faces with tongues 11 and recesses 12, the tongueof one side plate projecting into the recess in the end of the abuttingside plate. By this construction while a limited longitudinal movementofthe plates is allowed for, yet a depression of any plate acts to depressthe adjoining ends of the plates next to it in either direction.

The operation of my third-rail guard is plain from what has gone before.The contact-shoe being in contact with the third rail power istransmitted to the car-motor. As

the car travels forward the depressor 8 runs along the tread or upperface of the side plate 5, forcing it downward and opening a way for thepassage of the arm which carries the contact-shoe. As the car passes theside plate 5 is forced upward by the springs, thus closing the entranceto the third rail.

My improved guard is simple of construction and operation, provides forthe isolating of the third rail from rain or snow, and prevents allaccidental contact therewith. The joints therein are so thoroughlyprotected by the overhanging flange 5 that no water or snow can findentrance thereto and no ice will therefore form therein to impede theoperation of the side closing-plate.

IVhile I deem the form I have shown as the best for practical service, Ido not wish to be limited to it or to the details of construction, as Iconsider any third-rail inclosure formed of two longitudinal members orparts adapted to be automatically separated by the passage of a car aswithin my invention. As to the details, these may be varied in many wayswithout departure from the spirit thereof.

Having described my invention, what I claim is 1. In an electric-railwaysystem a third-rail guard, consisting of a longitudipally-extendinghood, covering one side and the tread of the rail, and open along theother side of said rail, and a movable side plate adapted to bedepressed by the passage of a car extending along the other side of saidrail forming the other side of the guard-hood and with the hood normallyinclosing the rail, said hood extending over the inside face of saidmovable plate.

2. In an electric-railway system a third-rail guard consisting of alongitudinally-extending hood covering one side and the tread of therail and having an inclined water-shedding upper face, and a side plateextending along the other side of said rail beneath the edge of saidhood and closing upon the side of the hood, said side plate and hoodbeing normally held close together but being adapted to be separated onefrom the other at the passage of a car and to close against the otherwhen the car has passed and said side plate having a longitudinal flangeon its upper edge projecting away from the hood and inclined downwardlyin continuation of the upper watershedding face of the said hood,substantially as described.

3. In an electric-railway system a third-rail guard, consisting of alongitudinally-extending fixed hood covering one side and the tread ofthe rail, a longitudinal, vertically-movable side plate covering theother side of said rail and forming the inner side of said guard-hood,springs for holding side plate normally up in position to close the openside of said hood, and means whereby the side plate may be depressed bythe passage of a car, substantially as described.

I. In an electric-railway system a combination with alongitudinally-extending fixed hood covering one side and the tread ofthe reasea lg;

rail, a longitudinal, vertically-movable side plate covering the otherside of said rail and forming the inner side of said guard-hood, a treadon said side plate, and springs for holding the said side plate normallyup in a position to close the open side of said hood, of a depressor andcontact-shoe located on a car, the depressor being in advance of thecontactshoe and adapted to bear against the tread oi the side plate todepress the same, and thus allow the passage of the said shoe,substantially as described.

5. In an electric-railway system the combination with alongitudinally-lixed hood covering one side and the tread oi the rail, alongitudinal, vertically-movable side plate covering the other side ofsaid rail, and forming the inner side of said guard-hood and providedwith a tread on its upper edge, a base in which said side plate issupported and guided, and springs between the bottom edge of said sideplate and the said base for holding the said side plate normally up in aposition to close the open side of said hood, of a depressor andcontact-shoe on a car, the said depressor located in advance of the saidcontact-shoe and adapted to bear against the tread of said side plate todepress the same to allow the passage of the contact-shoe, substantiallyas described.

6. In an electric-railway system the combination with alongitudinally-lixed hood covering one side and thetread of the rail, ofa vertically-movable side plate provided with a tread on its upper edge,a base for supporting and guiding said side plate having an upwardlyprojecting longitudinal flange, and springs between the sideplate andthe base for normally holding the side plate in a position to close theopening of the hood, the said side plate havinga down wardly-inclinedflange projecting over the flange of the base-plate and the said hoodbeing extended over the inside edge of said side plate, substantially asdescribed.

7. in an electric-railway system the eombination with alongitudinally'iixed hood covering one side and the tread of the rail,of a series of vertically-movable side plates eXtend- I ing along theopening of the hood, each side plate having a tread on its upper edge, abase for supporting and guiding said side plates having annpwardly-rn'ojeeting longitudinal flange, and springs between the saidside plates and the base for normally holding the side plate in aposition to close the opening of the hood, adjacent ends of each twoside plates being provided with tongues and recesses, substantially asdescribed.

8. In an electric-railway system the combination with alongitudinally-fixed hood covering one side and the tread of the rail,of a series of vertically-movable side plates extending along andclosing the open side of the hood, each side plate having a tread on itsupper edge, a base for supporting and guiding said side plates having anupmtrdly-projecting longitudinal flange, and springs between the saidside plates and the base for normally holding the side plates in aposition to close the opening of the hood, adjacent ends of each twoside plates being provided with tongues and recesses, whereby depressionof one side plate will cause the depression of the side plate nextadjacent thereto, substantially as described.

9. In an electric-railway system the combination with a hood coveringone side of the tread of the third rail, of a base-plate extendinglongitudinally along the other side of said rail and having anupwardly-projecting flange parallel to said rail, whose outer side isinclined, a side plate supported on said base normally closing the spacebetween the hood and said longitudinal .liange of the base, elasticmeans for normally holding the said side plate upward against theprojecting edge of said hood, and a downwardly-projecting flange on thesaid side plate overhanging the longitndinal flange oi the said base,substantially as described.

I in testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 1'7th day of April,1905.

MELCHIOR ZUGERMAYER.

Witnesses:

Fnnionnio B. Winen'r, (ji'i ORGE Catvna'r.

